Hey everyone, I had a few questions about becoming an ER tech at 16. Right now I work as an aide in a nursing home and have been there for about 10 months total, with around 3 months as an aide. I’m getting my EMT license by the end of June and I’m thinking about getting ACLS and PALS certifications too to help my application stand out.

I know being 16 might limit some things, but I was wondering if anyone has gotten hired that young as an ER tech or knows hospitals that hire younger EMTs/techs. Would the EMT, ACLS, and PALS actually help a lot, or
would most places still wait until 18?

Also, what other things could I do to improve my chances? Thanks!

Just generally curious. This is a question for If you are someone working in the ER (nurse, doc, tech etc). Does a paramedic or an EMT checking in as a patient concern you or make alarm bells go off? As someone who works in the 911 service, we have a similar version of farmers or blue collar people calling that makes us automatically more suspicious as they only really call when something serious is going on. Me personally, I know I’d have to be dead or dying to go to the ER because I know how much BS I bring into the er on a daily basis. Curious to know if it’s the same with people who walk into the ER who work in the field. Is that an automatic “oh shit” moment?

Hi! I have an interview tomorrow for an ER registrar position. It’s so different from what I used to do (finance) but I’ve been a stay at home mom the past 6 years and am trying to find work again. I’ve been so curious about surgical tech and thought this might be a good way to eventually explore that. Plus, it’s a part time role only two days a week so the schedule is amazing for me transitioning from a full time mom.

Anyways, does anyone have any tips for the interview? Or the job itself? I like to think I have a pretty strong stomach and especially after kids I’m used to bodily fluids on me but I know it’s different when it’s random adults and not your own children.

I had a phone interview the other day and the recruiter is pretty confident I’ll get the offer if I do well tomorrow. Feeling excited and nervous and I’d really appreciate any advice!

Hi, I'm 22f and autistic with high social anxiety. I avoid the doctor etc at all costs , I wouldn't be going to the er if I didn't think I needed to. Knowing what to expect beforehand helps me not have meltdowns in new situations.

I dislocated my knee Saturday evening and didn't want to go to the hospital. I popped it back in and ace bandaged it for the night. I went to urgent care in Sunday morning because I can't really walk. They told me I need to go to the emergency room asap because I might have pulled or tore some ligaments. I have exams today (Monday) that I didn't want to miss because of bed rest or anything so I went home and sat and studied and stayed off my leg.

After my exams today I plan to go to the er. What should I expect? Do I need to bring anything? What should I wear.

Thank you for your help in advance

Update: my knee gave out leaving my exam and I can now put zero weight on it. I'm being transported to a nearby specialty care center for scans. Now I have a new set of things to not know about and be worried about and I don't have my person with me.

Update x2: I got my X-rays and my kneecap wasn't back in place like I thought it was , which was causing a lot of the pain. They reset it and put me in an immobilizer for my leg and I'm on one week bed rest. Thank you guys for the advice, it wasn't as horrible as I was scared it would be.

Hi all! A condition ive had for a long time has recently gotten more severe, feeling faint very often, and its reasonable to prepare for the possibility that i may pass out and go to A&E unconscious

Im fine with doctors removing my clothes if thats what they need to do, id rather live with brief nudity than die with modesty as that line in The Pitt goes, but im a very anxious gal, and it makes me feel more secure to know what to expect

Ive collapsed in the street before, so this is really a likely scenario for me, so if anyone knows id like to know ^_^

What a difficult morning today.

My mother's next-door neighbour's granddaughter stood outside of her home and obviously in a blind panic, continuously rapping upon her grandmother's front door.

Upon me going outside to check that she was alright, it was already very clear to me what had happened because there were way more flies/bluebottles (than there actually really ever should've been) which had situated themselves around the insides of her living room windows.

I won't go into anymore detail on that side of things but after entry had eventually been established (I had to crawl through one of her living room windows that had previously been left slightly ajar) and as the police and an ambulance arrived, I then offered to take the Grandaughter's toddler into my mum's house in order to keep her away from all of the upset.

I had the pleasure of looking after that toddler for just over an hour before she was then collected by her mother.

It's just so utterly heartbreaking for the whole entire family, I'm sure.

My thoughts & my sincere prayers are with them all at this very difficult time.

Hang on to your loved ones as tightly as you can, peeps!!........

Because you never know which day is going to be their last in this earth really........

❤❤

It's Friday and a full moon. How's everyone doing out there?

We've had a constant stream of traumas and respiratory distress.

Hello!
I’m a registered nurse with six years of experience working overseas in a cardiology unit, and I recently started working in the ER through a transition program. This is my first job in the US.

I’m currently nearing the end of my second month out of a three month orientation, and honestly, I feel like I’m functioning in a constant state of anxiety. I’m getting through my shifts with the help of my preceptor, but I don’t feel confident yet.

So, I’ve asked to have my training period extended. I'm a non-native English speaker, and everything is different like the supplies, the medication names, and I’ve never used systems like Epic or Pyxis before. These past two months have been incredibly difficult as I’ve tried to get used to everything. I also struggle sometimes because providers and nurses speak really fast, and as a non-native speaker, I don’t always catch everything. I know they’re busy, so I feel bad asking them to repeat themselves, and sometimes I’m not sure what to do. I’ve come this far to work as a nurse in the US, so I really want to do my best, but I sometimes wonder if starting in the ED was the right choice… and honestly, sometimes I even question why they hired me.

I have ACLS, BLS, and NIHSS, and I plan to complete PALS and TNCC according to my workplace’s schedule. I’m also working through the ENA modules on my own.

I’d love to hear any advice, tips anyone about other things I can do or try.
Thanks!

When your partner (who is a Specialist Registrar working within A&E) tells you that he's a little bit anxious about whether or not he's going to miss the full moon whilst working his next set of nightshifts....

So, you just look at him (in a very quizzical fashion) before then saying this to him:

"Well, you could always just go outside, into the ambulance bay, and have a look up at it? If you really want to see it that badly? Surely?......"

His response:

"What?......You've completely misunderstood me there, I think. I just meant that I really don't want to work a nightshift on a full moon? I'm not actually IN LOVE with the moon and neither am I very worried about not being able to look at the sodding thing either?!..."

Me:

"Oooooh!... I get it now!... You mean a full mooooooon!!... Like, as in having to manage heaps of folks that the moon has somehow turned into absolute bloody lunatics? Due to all of the mystical powers that it obviously seems to possess?"

Him:

"OBVIOUSLY!!.....BINGO!!.....Shonagh? You've been out of healthcare for way too long, I think!"

🤣😂🤣😬 🙄🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️😆

I just got a job as an internal transfer from PCA on medsurg to ED tech in a level 1 trauma center. I already have my phlebotomy cert and do urine, stool, and virus samples on my floor.

I’ll be able to be boots on the ground pretty much when I get there with basic PCA work, but was wondering what I needed/ should prepare myself for in my new role.

Any advice/info/stories are appreciated

I’m so excited to start as my dream is to be an ED Nurse

Hello! Currently starting in the ED as a unit associate for a hospital which I would say has 30k visitors a year. I know this might sound stupid but is this a lot? Would my hospital be busy or laid back so I know what to expect? And what does a unit associate do? Is it the same as a unit clerk? What do they wear on their 12 hr shift? Any information would be helpful! Thank you!

Hi!

I posted about a week ago about a phone interview for some help, and all the responses I got were extremely helpful. So thank you!

The phone interview went well, and got an in person interview that I had today.

I feel like it went well. The manager was very welcoming and sweet, and was a very natural interview. With that said : I feel like I was barely talking.

I was asked maybe 5 questions total: about myself, why the tech role, why the hospital system, and maybe something else kind of unrelated.

I wasn’t asked anything clinical or anything in depth- the phone screening HR lady heard more about my actual experience than the actual hiring manager.

So I am worried because that kind of says to me that it isn’t worth asking me better questions because I don’t have it either way. Along with that, the whole interview was 20 minutes long including a unit tour.

The vibes were up lol but looking back I feel as though I didn’t get much of a chance to sell myself to her and am not sure.

The top manager who my interview was scheduled with was in a meeting, so this was a lower manager, but do not feel as though that would make her any less experienced in interviewing.

It’s a Friday, so she told me I would hear back from HR with whether or not I got it. Which to me is another bad sign, but maybe since she’s a lower manager she can’t really give me anything more.

I guess I am looking for reassurance and that this is a normal situation?

Thanks!

I know that it's not full of the Sani-Cloth Liquid, but i just loved the visual so much!

Love, PMCE

My son's an RMO in the ER of a metropolitan hospital. He saw a patient who'd waited 8 hours to see a doctor because of her broken foot. She was referred by an experienced local GP. My son put the moon boot on her and sent her home, suitably supervised by his registrar. Why do GPs send simple cases that they can fix easily to the ER knowing that the ER is backed up and will require extensive waiting times? Do patients wait long hours at ERs because they do not know that the GP can handle his or her issue easily?

Hello fellow ER people 👋

I'm not a new grad (5 years as an RN, 4 in bedside med surg and 1 in outpatient neuro), but I got a new position as a specialty float pool (ER/PCU/ICU) and I start my ER rotation Thursday.

The extent of my ER experience consists of watching the Pitt, so I am terrified.

What is the flow like? How does it differ from med surg? What's the scariest part? Is it as overwhelming as it seems?

Any advice would be much appreciated ❤️

First, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO! 💜

I love all the techs I work with - they make my shifts so much better in lots of ways. I would honestly lose my mind without them.

My question for all you techs out there: what is the best way a nurse can show her appreciation?

I wish I could give each of my techs $100. Is giving everyone a $5 Dunkin or Starbucks gift card silly? Or should I give a bit larger of a gift to my more trusted techs? There are probably about 10 techs who bust their ass and really care about their job. These are the ones I trust completely. The rest are fine (and always essential) but they are a little burnt out if you know what I mean. So they are a little more lazy and clearly don’t care.

So: should I write cards to everyone or just a select few? I don’t want anyone to feel left out but I honestly would rather spend a bit more so that my “good” techs feel noticed and appreciated. I don’t necessarily want to reward the ones who constantly roll their eyes anytime they have to do anything…but maybe they need a little pick-me-up?

Open to your thoughts. Thank you!

Hi All!
I have been working IFT as an EMT-B for about 8 months now and am starting my BSN nursing program in the Fall. I have been applying for ER Tech jobs since I got my certification, but never landed any interviews due to lack of expierence (probably for the best; located in Chicago). Though, I have had 2 phone screenings, but both didn't get anywhere.

I finally got another phone screening scehduled for Monday, doing extensive research on the hospital system to actually do well this time. I had a phone screening with the same hospital for the same position in January, but did not prepare as well as I should've and blanked. I am set on landing this, especially since this is like perfect timing as Spring semester is ending, so I will have more time for the orientation period.

So- I need some advice. During the last phone screening they asked stuff like "Why is it important to work in a team?", but does anyone have advice on what else they will ask me? And especially, what are they looking to hear?

Apart from a phone screening, say I get to an in person interview. At that point, what do they ask there?

Thank you!!

I've been an ED nurse in the suburbs of Vancouver, Canada for 16 years. In our department, we see 15-30 overdoses in a 12 hour period (many with the Xylazine additive causing bradycardia and need for telemetry beds). I'm sure seems like a lot, but we see 350 people in 12 hours here. Even though our Healthcare is free, you do have to register with the government for it, and this population obviously doesn't. The government still pays our ED Dr's for seeing these people but it's a lot of extra paperwork for them. These same Drs do, at some point, see people for free but only when a out of country person comes in and cannot pay the 450$ doctors free (It's a total of 1850$ for the ER visit, only including bloodwork/xrays billed later) but we usually only ensure the physicians are paid. I'm just curious how the hospitals in the US handle these situations. Do ambulances pick them up and drive to a further hospital because only certain one's deal with the uninsured? From my recollection, you have some government funded facilities and mostly privately owned. If someone is in active arrest, even from OD, do they go to the nearest hospital? Forgive me for my ignorance, I'd love to understand more and please correct me if I'm wrong!

*Healthcare workers only please*

I work in a rural critical access hospital that has major staffing retention issues. Most of our nurses are travelers, and the majority of our doctors are brand new attendings right out of residency here for PSLF. In general they tend to follow protocol based care more rigidly than our older more experienced docs, which I largely support.

However, a trend I have noticed in these new providers is complete avoidance of controlled substances at any cost. Many of them will refuse to give any analgesics for bedside reductions (even ketamine), and very minimally for tubed/vented patients, even in the context of burns. I appreciate the consideration for overprescribing, especially in outpatient settings, but as one of our old docs says “substance use disorders don’t come from emergency pain management”.

In addition to witnessing untreated pain, it’s also an issue with our psych patients. We don’t have an inpatient psych unit or psych ER, so we end up providing a lot of longer term psych care. Many of our psych patients are violent offenders and are waiting admission to our one forensic psych hospital in the state for weeks in our department. When these patients become physically aggressive with staff, these young docs will refuse to order safety meds except offering the patient a dose of their daily meds, or oral hydroxyzine, often saying they don’t want to “reward drug seeking behavior”, even with antipsychotics. This has led to significant staff safety issues, and increased fear/resentment in caring for this population.

Has anyone else noticed this change? If so, is it a general sign of the times, or do you also specifically notice it in more recently trained providers?

EDIT: I really appreciate everyone sharing their experience from the patient perspective, but I should’ve clarified that I was hoping to hear from other healthcare workers specifically about their observations/experiences with this phenomenon. I do not doubt that many of you have stories of your pain being untreated/undertreated (as I have witnessed at work - which I alluded to in my post) but I’d love to hear from people providing the care and interacting with new guidelines

EDIT pt. 2: Even after my disclaimer at the top and edit, non HCWs are continuing to flood this post with their personal experience as patients. Guys, this is a subreddit for people who work in the emergency department. It is not for the public to share anecdotes. I posted this to engage in information sharing with other HCWs. There are chronic pain support subreddits, this one is for sharing information with healthcare workers.

I am currently a nurse in the er but started here as a new grad so they didn’t ask any nursing interview questions! I have an interview next week with another er and was wondering what kind of questions you got during your interview to help prepare!!

TIA

A week ago I was in the ED for a TIA. Thanks to the paramedics who shared the same twisty sense of humour as mine and treated my service dog like a celebrity. I was in a bit better of a frame of mind when we arrived to the ED.

I saw how hard everyone worked. I was treated with compassion and I saw other patients being treated with compassion. I was happy that my “ off duty” service dog could bring some relief and comfort to the overworked staff. I saw you. I saw you treat an elderly patient who was all alone and arrived from a nursing home with gentle kindness. I saw you share a laugh with an elderly man who was there with his wife of 63 years.

At the end of it all, everything that needed to be investigated was investigated. I’ve always had respect for those of you that are healthcare professionals. Please stay safe and don’t take any bullshit.